Manuel peieto



M. PRIETO.

MACHINE vFOR CLEANING PIBERS.

APPLIGATION P ILBD SEPT. s, 190s; .No MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Si E Q) PATBNTBDPBB.16,1904.

No. 752,258. PATENTBD FEB. 16, 1904.

M. PRIETO.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING FIBERS.

APP-LIGATION FILED SEPT. s, 1903. No MODEL. y i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nu y Y @wwe/MCO@ Y @MM aux@ No. reacts.

Unire STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

MANUEL PRIETO, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

NIACHlNE FOR CLEANING FIBERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofv Letters Patent N o. T52-,258, dated February V'16, 1904. l

. Application tiled September 8, 1903. Serial No. 172,253. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANUEL PRIETO, a citi- Zen of the Republic of Mexico, residing in the city of Mexico, in the Republic of Mexico, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Cleaning Fibers, of which the following is a specification.

There is a class of plants, of which the several branches of the agave family are good types, Which'are indigenous and produced in great quantities in the tropical portions f the AmericanV continent, the leaves of which contain strong smooth fibers extending the whole length ywell adapted for important uses in cordage and other work. I will describe my invention as applied to treating the leaves of these plants; The skins and other portions of the leaves adhere stron gly; but it has longbeen known and practiced to clean these fibers by subjecting the leaves one-half at atime to the action of powerful revolving beaters. Machinery invented by myself and others effects not only the beating, but also the holding of the leaves to carry them successively into the to hold them they are subrange of action of ythe beaters, against the strong pull to which jected in the beating operation, feet the change of conditions required to subject the leaves to a second treatment by the same or dierent beaters.

The present improvement applies to that class dof machines. s The leaves are held tightly by one end while the other end is beaten and the extraneous matter removed, and then be-r fore relaxing the grip on theuntreated end the cleaned portion of the ber is seized and the previouslyuntreated end of the leaf being beaten'in its turnl the fiber is delivered completely cleaned throughout its entire length.

I` have devised important improvements in the provisions for holding the leaves during these operations and especiallyffor effecting the change in the grip. V

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying diagrams or outlines and the succeeding more complete drawings, including a series of successive sections all the right.

and also to efviewed in the direction ofthe feeding motion, form a part of this specification.

Outline A -is a side view. Outline B is a section on the line "6 in outline A. Thereu maining figures are on a larger scale.4 Figure 1 1s a side view of a portion with certaln parts removed. Fig. 2 1s a corresponding vlewin a plane at right angles thereto. The remain.

ing igures represent successive sections through certain portions, vall viewed in the same direction relatively to the motion. Fig. 3 is a section on the line E 3 in Fig. lseen from seen from the same general direction. Fig.

Fig. 4 is a section on the plane E i 5 is a section in the plane E 5. Fig. 6 is a section in the plane E6, and Fig. 7 is al correspending section'on the line E 7 seen from the same general direction. tions of the last figures are due to the views being all .seen in the same general direction relatively to the motion. Itis intended that the series shall represent the work in successive stages arranged favorably for comparison. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

The invention is shown and will be described as applied to a machine o f'the general construction set forth in the United States pat ent to me, dated June 9, 1903, No. 730,701. That patent may be referred to for details additional to those herein set forth.

A is the fixed framing; B, astout shaft; B2, a drum carrying beaters B3,which being driven by a steam-engine or other suitable power beat and clean short lengths of the butt-ends of the several leaves successively presented to them.

The strained posiv Dis an endlesschain which runs over two K polygonal Wheels F and Gr, slowly revolved. The leaves successively placed in positions transverse ofthe chain are engaged thereby and carried under a platen A2, having springs A3 for allowing it to yield if the pressure due to the passage of theleaf between it and the chain D becomes excessive and provisions A4 for adjusting the tension of the springs.

chain I) are grooved longitudinally., and the The outer surface of the several links ofthe 'Y of the chain and the corresponding grooving IO under surface of the platen A2 is grooved lonL gtudinally toI match. Each edge of the bearing-surface of the chain outside of these smooth longitudinal grooves and ridges is toothed, as indicated-by D. These teeth engage the transversely extended leaves and compel them to traverse with4 the movement of the chain. The grooving of the'mid-width of the platen aid in holding theA leaf `to resist the strong pull due to the action of the beaters.

When a leaf has been .slowly carried past the beatingdrum B2, all that part of the leaf which extends beyond the chain into the path of its beaters has been efficiently cleaned. At a later stage in the treatment the previouslyltreated end of the leaf, which now has become reduced to a bunch of parallel fibers, is a secvond time lstrongly seized by the chain D,

above described, which holds it firmly between itself anda second chain P, which runs' 'f is revolved in the opposite direction.

important't'o allow the second beaters M3 to ing means: A12 is'what is" practically an. ex-I over two wheels O and Q below and subjects the remainder of the le'af to the action ofv a second beating-drum M2, carried on a shaft M This drum may be in all respects similar to therfirstbeating-drum B2;` but I prefer to make it somewhat larger. It acts in a corre- `spondingman'ner on the portion of the leaf whichis presented to it, but by its arrange-l ment acts on the opposite side of the chain and It is clean -quite up tothe point at which the previous cleaning terminated. I accomplish the change in the holding and presenting theleaf between' these two treatments by the followtension ofthe platen A2. lIt holds the leaves lightly upon the chain D until they have -passed considerably beyond -the first beatingdrum. On the same shaft E as the polygonal WheelF are rmly set two wheels F' and F2, one on each side of the wheel Each is grooved i circumferentially, with the bottom of the groove smooth and exactly circular, and is radially toothedon each side. X is a holder extending about halfaround the wheel F and strongly supported n the frame of4 dicate that there is sufficient elasticity in the mechanism. if lmade plain,'having simply provisions for adjusting the positions, to increase,orV reduce the pressure as the wear due to the use of the mechanism or differ-v ences in the leaves being treated may require.v

As the leaves commence to be carried downward half around the wheel -F they come .F2,and presenting a smooth inner edge.

holders X X2. After these parts have properly engaged with the leaf, one wheel, F2, and its holder X2 engagingtlie hard body of the untreated portion'of the leaf and the other Wheel, F', and its holder Xengaging the thin fibers which remain at the butt-end of the leaf after its first beating, the chain Dtemporarily ceases to have any material infiuence on the leaf, and if, as shown, the wheels F and F2 and their accompanying holders are sufii. ciently large each leaf will vbe held substantially out of contact with the chain, subject to any other influence which may be brought to bear upon it. The inner edge of Vthe holder X2 is an are (nearly half) of a perfect circle,

and consequently the grip which is taken on Sthe' leaf Awhen it enters between this holder and the wheel F2is continued uniformlv. The inner edge of the holder X is concentric for only asmall portion-say one-quartcr-v-of the motion. It may hold for a sufiicient time to aid in overcoming the adhesion ofthe leaf to the chain and detaching it therefrom. Be-

Ayond'this point the inner edge is cut away or gade of greater radius relatively to thewhcel this holderis relaxed, so as to be practically inefficient except to act as a steadic'rlof thc cleaned ber, which is all that remains of the previously-treated butt-end of the leaf.

vU and U2 are stationaryliberatOrS,v which need have but little thickness, presenting smooth outer edgesin the positions shown on each side, respectively, of the chain D, adapted to insure thelifting ofthe crushed leaf out of engagement with the chain so soon as the l within the grip of these wheels F F2 and their 65 As the leaf moves forward the grip of IOO wheelsF F2'and theirA holders X X2 have taken hold.

'W is an yimportant member of the mechan-` ism, stationary except as it may require to be adjusted'froml time -to time, 'curved inward between the liberator U2 and the wheel is arranged to act camwise-that is to say, its

edge W presses gently onthe outer face of the leaf, and as the motion continues it bends and' presses inward that portionv of the leaf with which it is in contact. The shortening by the formation of a'bight thusextending inward drawsthe looselyheld materiahtendingto contract equally from each end. As the un treated end' is held while the treated .end is free, the treated end aloneA yields, and there sul't shifts a sufficient length-of the leaf trans verselyfof the wheel F, and consequently across the face of the chain. After this the lio lig,

chain D becomes again efficient and-mips' the p faces, both moving, and allow the remainder of the leaf to be cleaned by the beating which is imparted-by the beaters Mi. This second beating, as ordinarily v conducted, treats a greater length of the leaf than the first. It is mainly for thisreason that I prefer to have the second beating-drum MB of larger diameter than the first beating-drum B2. It will beunderstood that each beating-drum has a curved bed against which the beaters can act eiliciently in forcibly scraping the toughlyadhering meat and skin of the leaf away from the ber. Also that there may be a casing covering the machine toprevent particles lof ing side, 2o,

solid matter and especially the acrid juices of liberator `by lifting the leaf makes it ready to be easily drawn across the chain. The liberator U2 is' important because it lifts the leaf and holds it up out of the influence of the teeth on .the side of the chain, when the leaf is drawn along and deflected inward.

Modiiications may be made without'departing from the principle or' sacrilicing the advantages ofthe invention. The proportions ,of the machine may be varied. l -The chains D and. Rand the polygonal wheels F G and O Q,

I' on which they are carried, may be wider or they may serve successfullyif somewhat narrower than shown.. The longitudinal ridges in the chains may be coarser Aor liner than shown'. Also the marginal teeth on the chains niay be larger or smaller. The drawings are intended to A indicate about the proportions which my experiments establish as successful with ordinary leaves.

Parts of the invention can be usedwithout others. I can dispense with the liberators U' and U2. The liberators when used may extend around so as to hold the crushed leaf out beyond any possible obstruction by the teeth on the chain during the entire period while thefshifting is being eiected. My experiments indicate that they are more useful with large leaves than with small. The Wheels F' and F2 should be keyed or otherwiseheld adjustably, so that when some or all the leavesy I are very short the Wheels .may be set quite close together, leaving little more -space than is required for the deflector and for the leaves .as they are successively carried past it.

I claim asmy inventionc 1. In a machine for treating fibrous plants having a slowly-moved carrying-chain D with provisions for holding the leaves transversely therein, and two beaters acting in succession.

on the material which is allowed to extend on opposite sides of such chain, a polygonal wheelF carrying such chain,the combination herein specied.

therewith of a circular wheel F2 alongside said wheelF, provisions for holding and carrying a leaf thereby, and a delector W acting on theleaf to bend it in the space between said wheel F2 and the chain D, provisions for relaxing the hold of the chain at one period, and

provisions for tightening it again at a later4 stage :and subjecting the leaf to the action of theA second beater, all'arranged to serve subv stantially as herein specified. l

2.n In a machine for treating fibrous plants having a slowly-moved carrying-chain D with provisions for receiving the leavesI Atransversely, two sets of beaters acting in succession on the material which is allowed to extend on opposite sides of such chain, and a` polygonal wheel F carrying such chain, the

.combination therewith, one on each side of said wheel F, of two circular wheels FF2 and provisions for holding and carrying the leaf by each, and a deflector W acting on the leaf to bend it in the space between one of said wheels F F2 and the chain D, provisions l for relaxing the hold by the chain and also provisions for releasing the hold by one wheel while retain-ing the hold by' the other wheel, and provisions for again taking hold .by the chain and subjecting the leaf to the actionoi` the second set of beaters, all substantially as having a slowly-moved carrying-chain D with provisions for receiving the leaves transversely, two sets of beaters acting in succession on the material which is allowed to extend on opposite sides of such chain, and a polygonal wheel rF carrying such chain, the' combination therewith, one on each side of said wheel F, of two circular wheels F' F2 and provisionsfor holding the leaf by each, and a deiiector W. acting on the leaf to bend it in the space between one of said wheels F or F2 roo and the chain D, provisions for relaxing the hold by one wheel while retaining the holdby the other Wheel, a liberator U for detaching the leaf from the chain, and provisions fork again taking hold bythe chain and subjecting the leaf to the action of the second set of beaters, all substantially as herein` speciiied.

1L. In a machine for treating librous plants having a slowly-moved carrying-chain D, with provisions for receiving the leaves .transversely, two sets of beaters acting in succession on the material which is allowed to extend on opposite sides ofsuch chain, and a polygonal wheel F carrying 'such chain, the combination therewith, one on each. side o f said wheel F, of two circular wheels F F2 and' provisions for holding `the leaf by each, and

a detlector W acting on the leaf to bend it in the space between one of said Wheels F and Fa and the chain D, provisions for relaxing the hold by one wheel while retainingthe hold by the other wheel, a liberato'rU' for detach- 4a v '752,258 I ing the leaflfrom the chain on ones-ide and` a liberato'r Uzfor both detaehing the leaf and holding it 'up clear' of thechaindurng'the' Witnesses.'

shifting vmovement, and provisions lforj again 5 taking hold 'by' the chain and subjecting the leaf to the action of the second set of beaters,

all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aixmy signature in pliesence of two A v MANUEL PRIETO.

Witnessesz 1 v C. Lotus F. ROBINSON,

M. F. BOYLE.' 

